Why You Procrastinate - and How to Stop it for Good | Elyssa Smith | TEDxBabsonCollege

Summary

Elsa Smith, a trauma-informed life strategist, reveals the deep-rooted causes of procrastination linked to past traumas, including 'Tiny Tea' traumas from childhood. She shares personal experiences and strategies to overcome procrastination by rewiring negative self-beliefs and calming the nervous system, ultimately unlocking one's highest potential.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Procrastination is often seen as a personal trait, but it can be a coping mechanism for deeper issues like stress and trauma.
• 🧠 The brain's response to stress can lead to procrastination as a survival mechanism, especially when the right brain takes over during emergencies.
• 👩‍🏫 Elsa Smith, a trauma-informed life strategist, suggests that understanding the root causes of procrastination can help overcome it effectively.
• 🔍 There are different types of trauma that can lead to procrastination: big T trauma (major life events), little t trauma (lesser events), and Tiny T trauma (unmet childhood needs).
• 💡 Procrastination can be a sign of an underlying issue, acting as the 'canary in the coal mine' indicating a need for change.
• 🌟 Success and high performance are not achieved by constantly working harder but by addressing and overcoming the barriers that hold us back, like negative self-beliefs.
• 🤹‍♀️ The speaker emphasizes that everyone has the potential to overcome procrastination and achieve their highest potential with the right tools and understanding.
• 👶 Tiny T trauma can stem from childhood experiences where needs were not met, leading to negative self-beliefs that affect adult behavior.
• 🌱 Overcoming procrastination involves rewiring the brain's negative self-beliefs and creating a sense of safety without relying on procrastination as a crutch.
• 🌀 The speaker introduces techniques to calm the nervous system, such as activating the vagus nerve, as a way to create a sense of safety and reduce procrastination.
• 💪 Personal stories of clients illustrate how understanding and addressing the root causes of procrastination can lead to significant life improvements and promotions.

Q & A

What is the main message of Elsa Smith's talk?

The main message of Elsa Smith's talk is that procrastination can be a coping mechanism for stress and may be rooted in past traumas. She provides insights on how to overcome procrastination by addressing these underlying issues.

Who is Elsa Smith and what is her profession?

Elsa Smith is a trauma-informed life strategist who helps people overcome procrastination and other issues that may be rooted in past traumas.

What does Elsa Smith consider procrastination to be?

Elsa Smith considers procrastination to be a survival coping mechanism that the brain uses to avoid confronting feelings of failure, judgment, or the pressure to perform perfectly.

What are the three types of trauma Elsa Smith mentions in her talk?

Elsa Smith mentions three types of trauma: Big T trauma, which includes major life events; Little t trauma, which involves nonviolent situations that cause emotional distress; and Tiny t trauma, which consists of unmet needs during childhood that lead to negative self-beliefs.

How does Elsa Smith define Tiny t trauma?

Tiny t trauma, as defined by Elsa Smith, refers to the small, unmet needs during childhood that cause the brain to develop negative self-beliefs.

What role does the right brain play in the context of Elsa Smith's talk?

In Elsa Smith's talk, the right brain is described as the survival brain, which takes over during stressful situations and can lead to procrastination as a means of avoiding the stress.

What is the significance of the 'Band-Aid' analogy used by Elsa Smith?

The 'Band-Aid' analogy signifies that procrastination is a temporary solution that provides immediate relief but does not address the root cause of the problem, which is the need to feel safe and avoid confronting stress.

What does Elsa Smith suggest as a method to create safety for the brain and overcome procrastination?

Elsa Smith suggests techniques to activate the vagus nerve and calm the nervous system, such as rubbing hands together and applying pressure to certain areas of the face and neck, as a method to create safety for the brain and overcome procrastination.

How does Elsa Smith describe the difference between the right and left brain in relation to procrastination?

Elsa Smith describes the right brain as the survival brain that takes over during stress, leading to procrastination, while the left brain is the logical, rational part responsible for higher-level decision making, which is sidelined during stress.

What are the potential benefits of overcoming procrastination according to Elsa Smith?

According to Elsa Smith, overcoming procrastination can lead to achieving one's highest potential, improved self-love, better performance in high-pressure situations, and a more fulfilling life.